Life has just not been the same for the last 18 months, with everything from school, work, shopping, eating habits, travel, social life and relationships being turned upside down. Most professionals report an upturn in the number of people separating and seeking divorce.
Here at Family Matters, it has been no different, but we are pleased to have continued to help separating families to find practical solutions to their family issues – and we have done it all online!
Working online means that we have been able to help people across the whole country – and further afield – far more people than we would normally have met in an office environment. It has also given us the opportunity (and the skills) to further develop our mediation services. Managing director and mediator, Juliette Darlymple, has carried out over 200 online MIAMs since the beginning of the upheaval coming from the COVID-19 pandemic. She has found that many people prefer to mediate remotely as it often makes life easier, meaning they don’t have to travel, haven’t had to leave the kids with someone, and have been able to get on with the rest of their day more quickly. Online mediation also works really well in financial cases, with people being able to send in or upload the relevant paperwork before the meeting. They can then sit in their own home with the same paperwork in front of them – in an order that works for them – instead of taking it (often mingled in a carrier bag) to a strange office and trying to find the document they need when they are flustered and upset.
Juliette has also found that she is rather good at online mediation! Some of the latest reviews bear testament to that:
- Simon from North Yorkshire says that after more than two years of not speaking to his ex, mediation has helped them to become friends again and allowed him to see his children.
- A mum from Norfolk says that Juliette has helped her and her ex to co-parent again, after thinking that there was no chance that mediation would work and court would be the only option.
- A woman whose mediation was carried out online says that the online meetings worked well and helped her and her ex achieve their goals.
- A dad from Doncaster says that mediation has helped him to reconnect with his children.
You can read lots of praise from clients who have found mediation has worked for them on our web page ‘What people say about us’.
If you have separated, or are thinking of separating, and want to speak to someone who will listen and help you achieve whatever goals you have for your family – wherever you are, contact us now at admin@familymattersmediate.co.uk or you can ask a quick question or book an appointment by completing our questionnaire. You can also find out much more about online mediation on our website.
